SSS-Class Revival Hunter-Chapter 363: The Scream-Gathering Sky (5)

The duel was over. The Primordial Staff had been defeated, and I had won. It was a fight that ended with a unanimous vote, so all that was left was sorting out the aftermath.

“Your Grace, are you planning to make the Death King—um, the Scream-Gathering Sky—a new Pillar?” River Eternal asked.

The Tower master shook her head. “No, Scream Sky wouldn’t wish to become a Pillar now.”

I tilted my head. “Scream Sky? Are you talking about me?”

“Yes, the Scream-Gathering Sky is a bit long, isn’t it? Since it has ‘scream’ in the name, you are now Scream Sky. Gathering people’s memories means collecting their names, so I guess you can also be called Named Sky. Living that person’s life and returning their life to them makes you Life Sky too. Lastly, as the sky that rules the afterlife, Nether Sky would be a fitting name, too[1].”

“You’re good at coming up with names,” I said.

“I have many children, so it’s a necessary skill.”

For some reason, the princess, not the Tower master, puffed out her chest in pride at that.

The Tower master asked, “So? Do you wish to become a Pillar now, Scream Sky?”

I looked around. “If I became a Pillar now, that would mean...”

“Your journey of climbing the Tower would end here. A Constellation rules one floor, but a Pillar manages the whole Tower. Just like a Constellation playing on the floor they rule can’t be considered an achievement, climbing the Tower as a Pillar is also illogical.”

After contemplating for a long time, I answered, “I want to reach the hundredth floor first.”

My statement seemed to have been a surprise to the Pillars, yet the Tower master nodded as if she had expected this.

“Very well. For now, I shall conclude the matter with you becoming a complete Constellation, Mr. Kim Scream-Sky.”

“I don’t think I like being renamed like that...” I said sourly.

“Mr. Kim Stupid-Sky?”

“You’re mean! You gave me all those names and fancy reasons just so you can call me like that, didn’t you?”

The Tower master ignored me. “To be a true Constellation, there are requisites and procedures one must go through. Only after you finish them can you give blessings to your followers.”

“What are these requisites and procedures?”

“Once you become a complete Constellation, you can never erase your Skills. Let’s see.”

The Tower master flicked his finger. Squares appeared in the air and floated. Those squares—colored in gold, silver, and bronze—were my Skill Cards.

“I Want to Be Like You. Class S+. Regressor’s Clockwork. Class EX. Sword Constellation. Class A+. Monster Legion Reincarnation. Class SSS. High Society of Goblins. Class F. Demonic Heaven Arts. Class A+. A Torn Goddess’s Salvation. Class A+. Demonic Heaven Formula Arts. Class S. Earthbone Dragon’s Skull. Class SSS+...”

Dumbstruck, the Tower master looked at me.

“You really dug up all the treasure you can find. Isn’t it about time you realize that your conscience went missing long ago?”

“But I still have the High Society of Goblins, you know,” I answered.

“What are you talking about? That Skill is your whole identity. Even if you give up all your other Skill Cards, you'd better keep this one at all costs.”

The Tower master understood me. I nodded. “I see you’re a woman of culture as well.”

“So, I’ll give you an opportunity, Scream Sky.”

I tilted my head. “Opportunity?”

“It’s simple. You upgraded the Monster Legion Summon, a Class SS Skill, to the Monster Legion Reincarnation of Class SSS as a reward for clearing the eleventh to the nineteenth floors, yes? This opportunity is the same reward. I’ll give you the chance to merge your Skills. It’s like when a baroness becomes a duchess. She gathers the small estates scattered across the land and makes one big duchy. At the same time, she can also prune things up.”

The Tower master, who was also a noble from a realm, used quite a noble metaphor.

“Can I then change Skills as I wish?” I asked.

“Yes, but you’ll have to convince me first.”

The Tower master chuckled, covering her lower face with her hand. Her long sleeves, not resembling any form of sleeves on Earth, fluttered as her purple eyes turned into the shapes of crescent moons.

“But this isn’t just a reward, Scream Sky. As you may already know, it’ll define what kind of Constellation you will become. A god should be clear and intuitive because a god is a helper by nature. They should make it clear who they can help. Only then can the followers ask for help. Think of Mutia. ‘I can rewind your life.’ How clear is that? Whereas—”

“It was unclear what Taotie could do as a Constellation. I see. Is the power of a Constellation determined by how straightforward their abilities are?”

“Yes, exactly. It’s about acquiring a good Skill set. Simple, right?”

I rested my chin on my palm and looked down, contemplating. What could I do for people? What was my power? What kind of people could I help? How far could my domain reach? What did I need in order to stay as myself?

In other words, what was my anchor? I contemplated for a long time until I found some answers of my own. The Tower master was watching me, patiently waiting for me. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

She could have asked River Eternal to take care of the rest and left. The duel is over, and this is merely a cleanup. Why is she still here?

Yes, the Tower master liked me, so perhaps she wanted to reward me herself instead of leaving the work to her advisor. However, I reached a different answer.

“I can ask you for advice on what would be my best choice,” I speculated.

The Tower master smiled. “That’s correct.”

I knew it. A weight lifted from my heart. The Tower master was the goddess of the Tower, the Central Pillar, and the Constellation shining in the highest night sky. There would be no better guide to ask for if I wished to grow stronger as a Constellation.

The Tower master is right. This is an incredible opportunity.

Not only did I have the chance to merge my Skills, but I also had the chance to ask for the Tower master’s advice. I should really rename myself Kim Stupid-Sky if I didn’t use this opportunity.

I bowed slightly. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Reward the deserving and punish the undeserving. Those who strive shall be rewarded. That’s the basic virtue that a noble must have.”

“Then I’ll get to the point right away. How do you manage to never tire yourself out?” I asked.

I could feel that the Pillars were watching me, their gazes filled with a particular emotion. They didn’t try to hide it, so I could tell what that emotion was right away—jealousy.

The Tower master was their master. Judging by her life and personality, the Pillars were affectionate only toward her and no one else. It was only natural that they would want to have her all to themselves in return.

I’m really competing with the Pillars now.

Is that why they were acting like this even though my heart only belonged to Raviel?

Probably.

They were jealous of me simply because I had the Tower master’s attention right now. It wasn’t because I had earned her favor, it was because she had given it to me.

From now on, the Pillars would try to hinder me from reaching the hundredth floor. They wouldn’t break the rules since that was a foolish move that would cost them the Tower master’s favor. Instead, they would compete with me fairly.

The Primordial Staff had already lost, so the other Pillars knew better than to underestimate me. It was going to be a hard fight, which was why the Tower master granted me this opportunity. To put up a good fight and stay strong, I had to make the best out of this opportunity.

“Hmmm. How do I never manage to tire myself out?” the Tower master repeated.

“Yes. Although I’m not tired yet, things might be different after becoming a complete Constellation. My fox god was also tired. Estelle grew weary because of me when we first met, but her heart had been festering long before that.”

It wasn’t just them. Most of the Constellations I had met, including Hamustra, were weary. That was what living for a long time did to people.

“So I’d like to hear how you deal with it, Tower Master.”

“It’s love,” the Tower master answered, like a priest revealing the simple truth. “I keep those I love near. No, I make those near me love me. When I’m hurt, my lovers are hurt more. They’re happier if I’m happy. That makes life worth living.”

“Wouldn’t that be too hard for your lovers?” I asked.

“It would be,” The Tower master agreed. “But only I can make my lovers the happiest, and that way, I become happier. Only I can give them great joy. When they suffer, I know their pain better than they do. Therefore, even if my lovers suffer because of me, it doesn’t matter. After all, no one can make them happier than I can.”

Her confidence seemed to border on arrogance.

“When I feel my lovers’ pain and joy, I can feel it in every fiber of my being that I’m alive. How do I not tire myself out? It’s simple. As long as I can feel alive, I’ll never be tired.”

I see.

It was a life that I would never seek, but it was worth noting. I made up my mind.

“Please give me a Skill.”

“Hmm? If it’s just a revision, that might be okay, but giving an entirely new one is a bit...”

“It’s fine. It’s actually not an entirely new Skill. It’s safe to say that I already have it."

“If that’s the case, then it’s fine. What is it?”

“A Certain Returner’s Love.”

The Tower master’s eyes widened. “Huh?”

“As you know, Raviel has it. It links Raviel’s timeline with mine. I want the same Skill.”

“It’s still effective even if only one of you has it. If you still want it, I have no reason not to give it to you, but it seems like a waste. You don’t have many Skill Slots left, do you?"

I smiled. “You’re slow on this one, Tower master. Wedding rings are shared by both groom and bride, right? Please give it to me. Come on.”

Hearing this, the Tower master laughed out loud. For some reason, she seemed to find the wedding ring example funny. Her laughter, resembling the sound of ripping silk, rang out sharply as she tapped the air.

[The Master of All Life has noted your sublime love and pure yearning, giving you a Skill.]

A golden card appeared before my eyes.

A Certain Returner’s Love

Class: EX

Effect: Love is like poison to a returner. No matter how hard you struggle, you cannot share the same time with the one you love, so a certain returner made a wish. “Please protect my lover’s memories.” The wish reached the Tower and came true.

You share your lover’s time. When your lover goes back a day, you also go back a day. If you go back a day, your lover will also go back a day.

This is the oath of the cycle and the marriage of time.

May luck be with you both.

※It is only active when you and your lover love each other.

It was the same Skill that Raviel had. If I were a Star Sign, it would be the first star to shine.

“Alright. I’ll be kind and give you a bonus, Scream Sky.”

Swoosh—!

A golden card fell onto the back of my hand and melted completely. After it turned into golden light, it seeped into my left ring finger, where my wedding ring was.

“I linked the ring with A Certain Returner’s Love. As long as the Skill Card isn’t torn, the wedding ring won’t be destroyed either. Uh-oh. Scream Sky, but you can’t tear up a Skill Card once you become a complete Constellation. ”

“So, it’s literally indestructible now, huh?”

“Yes, it’s now a true wedding ring. Congratulations.”

The Tower master smiled. The gazes from the surrounding Pillars grew sharper, but neither of us paid them much heed. Of course, our reasons were different. I took it as a weight I had to bear anyway, while the Tower master chose to look away intentionally.

She asked, “And? What other Skill do you want revised?”

“Please remove the penalty attached to Monster Legion Reincarnation,” I said immediately. “Using the Skill once a week is too harsh. If I were to summon my legion to attack, the Skill would be too overpowered, but I don’t do that. I just want to return the memories to the lives I’ve taken in. Remove the penalty, please.”

“Well, you have a point.”

“I can give two, three, and four extra points[2].”

“Five?”

“Fwack, fwack.”

After the stupidest exchange in the universe, the Tower master granted my request.

[Revising the Skill.]

[The penalty of the Monster Legion Reincarnation has been removed.]

[The Monster Legion Reincarnation (SSS) has changed to the Monster Legion Reincarnation (SSS+)!]

“What else? You should consider this your only opportunity. Don’t come begging me later, so ask everything you can now."

“Please revise A Torn Goddess’ Salvation, too. Hwia is no longer a torn goddess. She’s the Goddess of Protection. It’s only fair that I’m allowed to use her power fully.”

“That makes sense.”

“Sesame?[3]”

“I don’t know anymore, Mr. Gong-Ja... Do you enjoy these kinds of jokes? I’m starting to feel embarrassed,” the Tower master replied sourly.

“Damn it.”

[Revising the Skill.]

[Changing A Torn Goddess’s Salvation.]

[A Torn Goddess’s Salvation (A+) has been changed into the Goddess of Protection (S)!]

“As for the High Society of Goblins...”

The Tower master shook her head firmly. “No, I won’t change it. Never.”

[The High Society of Goblins has been preserved.]

[It is outrageous to erase it!]

“I swore to spend eternity with my fox god. While Raviel and I are bound to the same timeline, my fox god is the watcher who ensures that the timeline remains unscathed. I want my fox god’s existence to be clearly stated,” I requested.

“It shall be as you say.”

[The Master of All Life has acknowledged your alliance of eternal time, recognizing your Skill.]

[You have acquired Your Exclusive Music Box (EX).]

“What do you want to do with Hishimit Kritz and Mutia, Scream Sky?”

“They’re temporarily my subordinates, but they aren’t the companions with whom I’ll spend eternity. I think they wouldn’t want that either,” I said.

“That is a very sound judgment. Those forced to serve will rebel when you’re weakened or when someone stronger arises.”

“Yes. Although I may borrow their power from time to time like I do now, it’s not my power.” I emphasized my next words. “But I would like you to merge the Demonic Heaven Arts and Demonic Formula Arts. Both of them are about painting the Demonic Heaven.”

“That is also correct. I shall name it Demonic Heaven.”

[Revising Skills.]

[Merging the Demonic Heaven Arts (A+) with the Demonic Heaven Formula Arts (S).]

[The two Skills have become the Demonic Heaven (SSS)!]

My Skill set was now complete.

Name: Kim Gong-Ja

Class: S

Skills (10/10):

1. A Certain Returner’s Love (EX)

2. Regressor’s Clockwork (EX)

3. I Want to Be Like You (S+)

4. Monster Legion Reincarnation (SSS+)

5. Earthbone Dragon’s Skull (SSS+)

6. Sword Constellation (A+)

7. Goddess of Protection (S)

8. Your Exclusive Music Box (EX)

9. High Society of Goblins (F)

10. Demonic Heaven (SSS)

My first Skill, A Certain Retuner’s Love, was the base that was going to keep me from changing, letting the candle burn as a candle[4].

The next four Skills were my authorities. They allowed me to experience others' traumas, summon them back from death, and give them physical bodies.

My Skills from numbers six through eight were my allies. The Sword Constellation, the Goddess of Protection, and Your Exclusive Music Box didn’t just accompany me. We were soul bound.

Skill number nine, the High Society of Goblins... was the High Society of Goblins. There was no need for additional explanations.

Skill number ten, the Demonic Heaven, was my strength, my sword, and my origin. It was the sword hilt I grabbed, not to get eaten by the world, but to cut it down.

After all was said and done, the Tower master looked up at me. “Mr. Gong-Ja. Now, all you have to do is nod, and the official process of becoming a Constellation will be done.”

“I understand.”

“You can’t erase your Skills now.”

“Okay.”

“You can’t die either. Until now, you could tear the Skill Card of Returner’s Clockwork whenever you wished if you wanted to regain a life that death can end for good. However, once you nod, you can never go back to the person you once were.”

Yes, that was what she meant that I would be unable to tear apart the Skill Cards.

“When you die, you only return to the previous day, and the Skill only works within the Tower. Even if you die again trying to return as a child or go back to any time before you entered the Tower, you can’t leave the Tower and go back to that time, so I’ll ask you one last time. Are you truly ready to endure eternity?

I knew how heavy those words were, but I had come this far to be able to bear that weight.

I nodded. “Yes, I’ll forever remain as the sky for those who scream.”

The Tower master, who had come this far solely to tell me the following words, said, “May luck be with you.”

Tick.

Time began to flow again.

[The seventy-sixth floor has been cleared.]

[The seventy-seventh floor has been cleared.]

[The seventy-eighth floor has been cleared.]

[The seventy-ninth floor has been cleared.]

With the Primordial Staff’s defeat, all the floors she had been managing were cleared. Yoo Soo-Ha was still the examiner. I wondered what happened to him. I would soon find out.

Light seeped from under my feet, swiftly obscuring my vision.

[Your level has increased.]

[Your Skill Slots have increased]

[Your Hunter Class is SSS.]

[You are now the Scream-Gathering Sky.]

Whoosh!

White light enveloped me.

1. The word is the same in the raw. 명천(Myeongcheon). The author offered different meanings by using hanjas. ☜

2. This is a Korean wordplay on the word 일리(illli.) 일 in 일리 can also mean one. They counted up to five. It makes 오(five)리, which can also mean a duck. ☜

3. It’s another dad joke. ☜

4. Referencing the murim arc. The candle represents the grassroot’s life. Gong-Ja doesn’t want the teachings and beliefs of the Demonic Heaven to be tainted, he wants them to remain as they are. ☜